"You don't believe that."
"No." The tears, abruptly, were gone. "Matsuo Noda just took away the one . . . Matt, I'm going to kill him."
It was a sentiment I shared in buckets. The question was merely how. Medieval torture seemed too kind. I started to say something inane, and then, finally, the shocking truth landed with the force of that last explosion.
"Tam, that was supposed to be us." I was gazing at the flames, watching talons of metal contort in the heat. "Noda thought we were going to be on that copter."
"My God, of course."
"We've got to get out of here. Now. There's nothing anybody can do for Ken."
"I'm not leaving till I've settled the score."
"Be reasonable. There's no way we can do it here. This is Noda's turf." I was urging her to her feet. "We'll find a way. All I ask is that he know we were the ones who did him in."
"But how can we just leave?"
"What else are we supposed to do? There's nothing left." I tried to take her hand. "Come on."